Safety in a Land at War

We’ve had another reminder this week that we are living in a country still at war with it’s nearest neighbour (and brother). North Korea has been accused of starting the skirmish by launching missiles at the South Korean island of Yeonpeong. South Korea then retaliated by firing missiles back.

Two South Korean marines were killed in the attack and 18 people were injured, including 3 civilians. The situation remains tense, though it is unlikely to escalate much further. The South is not interested in a war, and without China’s backing, the North is not likely to launch a full-scale attack. Many people believe it is posturing by the North in the lead up to Kim Jong Il’s son taking power from his ailing father.

So what can you, as a foreign resident in a country at war, do to make sure you’re as safe as you can be?

First, register with your country’s embassy. It’s easy to do, and they will then be able to alert you should the situation escalate to a dangerous level.  Below are links to the relevant embassies for our readers.

Australia
Britain
Canada
Ireland
New Zealand
South Africa
USA

(If your country is not on the list, just google – country name travel abroad registration – and it should come up… that’s how I found these)

Second, make sure your passport is valid. And you might want to squirrel away enough money in case you need to buy an emergency ticket out of the country. Personally, I’m thinking of riding out any storm in Bali.

Third, ask your friends, boss or co-workers to keep you updated on the situation.

And don’t freak out if you hear air raid sirens. Look for flags with green and yellow triangles on them hanging along the main roads. They let you know that any sirens you hear that day are just test – usually on the 15^th of the month.